Fort Myers Florida Weekly
As Halloween approaches, thrill-seekers flock to all things haunted, creepy and terrifying for spine-chilling fun. Despite my scare limit being the snake in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" and never being a big fan of Halloween, this year, I mustered up the courage to dabble in the spooky season.
Entering through the black gates to the haunted corn maze at Farmer Mike's U-Pick in Bonita Springs, a dense white fog engulfed me, rendering visibility nearly impossible. The air was thick as I hesitantly stepped into the maze. Without sight, other senses heighten. A young girl's blood-curdling scream echoed in the distance, followed by the terrifying roar of a chainsaw that abruptly fell silent. The humid, thick smell of warm mud only added to the terror experience. My heart raced; I could feel creatures lurking just beyond my sight.
The maze twisted and turned — and I got lost. My fiancé and I laughed at our lack of directional skills, but that brief joy was sucked away as soon as it came when shadowy figures quickly approached us. One brushed up against my shoulder, with sounds of harsh, heavy breathing interrupted by eerie laughter. For what seemed like ages, the figures stalked us throughout the maze, making their presence known by incoherent sounds.
In one corridor, I stumbled into a pitch-black tunnel, surrounded by low whispers like a ghostly shroud. "I have to move forward. I have to get out," became my mantra as I navigated the muddy path.
I caught glimpses of figures, some appearing to be lifeless statues, their uncanny stillness unnerving. My eyes began playing tricks on me, making every shadow seem like a threat. Just when I thought we were alone, a towering figure raced toward us out of the labyrinth, revealing its contorted alien face and twisted smile. Reality blurred with every slight turn of my head. Even the mosquitoes had me convinced they were a part of this whole haunted theme; they played their role well, swarming and biting us constantly.
As I rounded a corner, the fog lifted momentarily, exposing an eerie sight: Pennywise (from Stephen King's "It"), crouched in an alcove, his piercing gaze locked onto each person as they passed. His costume was so accurate that I thought him to be a statue at first until I saw a faint movement in his head as it slowly tilted toward me, displaying an inhuman grin.
Carlos Rivera, who has brought Pennywise to life for the past five years said, "I love how people react differently— some run, some hide. It's just a lot of fun."
Rivera shared his love for this classic and infamous character.
"Well, for starters, I have a balloon, so a lot of times I stay still, and people think I'm a dummy," Rivera said. "People will come up and touch me and take pictures." As the next group comes along, he moves into a new position.
Many of the scarers use the maze to their advantage, blending into the environment until an unsuspecting visitor approaches.
Mike Thompson, one of the maze's managers, shared his excitement about this year's haunting. "Most people just sit at home doing nothing, so we want them to come out and have fun." Watching the fear on people's faces is priceless, he said, reflecting on his eight years of managing the event.
Jeanne Bethune, another manager, echoed his sentiments, emphasizing the diverse fears she witnesses each year.
It's fascinating to see how different people react, Bethune said. "I love it because you get to see all the different types of people and their different fears and phobias."
Bethune mentioned that each year, the team reflects on the maze and what scared visitors to help them prepare for the next season, which is full of new and improved fears and phobias.
Moments before entering the haunted corn maze, two young girls turned around and timidly asked, "Will you protect us?" Frozen in fear, I simply smiled, knowing that, unfortunately, I was not the person to ask, as I was equally, if not more, terrified than her.
Despite being strangers in a line awaiting certain fear, there was community. Everyone shared a common nervousness and anticipation, not knowing what they were walking into.
"It's a family event," Rivera added. "Families can come all day enjoying the festivities and those who want to get scared can stay until the evening. So, it's a whole big family thing and I think that's important. There's something for everyone to enjoy."
Farmer Mike's 10th annual Fall Festival and Haunted Corn Maze has locations in Bonita Springs and Fort Myers running through October. ¦
